Cheers for New Years!

2009 is soooo last year....

Husband and I have been invited to a wedding tomorrow (New Years Eve). At first I thought it was kinda lame to be married on a day when everyone is otherwise partying...but then realized that there ain't no party like a New Years Eve Party! It's gonna get KraZy!!  Crystal's poppin' yo!

So of course I'm going to be wearing red. All red. A WHOLE lotta red.

 

So my dress is kinda, sorta, kinda like this one, but way hotter/cuter/edgier.

red shoes, red bag, red wrap ( not exactly as shown, much cuter)

Yes, red red red!

Is there such a thing as wearing too much red?

Maybe.  And is a matching bag and shoes totally lame/old fashioned/granny like? 

Would Clinton and Stacy have a freak-out on me?

It is New Years Eve....I'm kinda thinking go big or go home!

The wedding is taking place at a beautiful church with a reception to follow at the Fairmont Palliser.

I heart this hotel because it's where husband and I had our reception almost 8 years ago, in the Crystal Ballroom.

So what I'm saying is, it's a pretty fabulous hotel, on a pretty fabulous night...can I not go krazy with red?

It's a second marriage for the bride, her first was brief and unfortunate. So happy for her to have met another guy within a few years of her divorce. She totally deserves to be happy!  And I'm fairly certain everyone is going to get dr-unk.

And in the words of Ke$ha, the great American songstress...

Don't stop, make it pop

DJ, blow my speakers up
Tonight, Imma fight
Till we see the sunlight
Tick tock, on the clock
But the party don't stop,no
Woah-oh-oh-oh


Happy New Year...hopefully 2010 will bring happiness, health and total awesomeness!
 

We're coming to America!

That's right, in the words of the great Neil Diamond (err, maybe "great" is too bold)...in the words of Neil Diamond, husband and I are "coming to America". We've got two trips planned in January to head down to see our patriotic neighbors to the south.  We're off to Vegas on January 7th for 4 days and then to Hawaii on the 31st for 12 days.  That's right 12 glorious, sun-filled days. Can you say Aloha?   ALOHA BITCHES!   I'm excited.

As for Las Vegas,  well it's nothing more than a self-indulgent, commercialized, hedonistic mecca for consumerism, vice and debauchery. 
And I'm Soooooo looking forward!   One word. Shopping.  
Screw the gambling, it's all about shopping. That is ALL that matters.

Now in Canada we are fortunate enough to have been invaded  graced by many of America's bountiful retail chains.
(Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma, Crate and Barrel, Restoration Hardware, and most major clothing stores etc.) but there are some unfortunate omissions to the Canadian retail landscape.

Target- or as we always call it in Canada (Tar-jay). Don't laugh. Sure it's a discount department store...but it has soo many deals. LURVE it!

Macy's- A department store with so much MORE.

Las Vegas Premium outlets- GAHHHH. 'nough said.

Las Vegas Fashion Show Mall.   (  ~True Nirvana~)

Dillards, Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Ave,  Neiman Marcus, White House/Black Market, Victoria's Secret ....the list goes on!

Honestly, I'm most excited about the large department stores. So much under one roof.  The brands we don't have in Canada at slightly lower prices. Hopefully there'll be some kick-ass post-Christmas sales.

* Question, why is there no name for the day after Christmas in the U.S.?    

It's called Boxing Day.  There, adopt that America. 

We have Boxing Day sales, in fact,  Boxing "week" sales that go on for weeks and weeks. Gotta blow out all the Christmas stock.

There must be a name to describe the incredible deals available after Christmas.  TELL me you actually have fabulous sales America!??? 

Like these girls,(on Boxing Day) cleaning up on bags!   

Merry Christmas

 I'm off for Christmas with the bambinos, husband and the rest of the fam! I'm also cooking Christmas dinner this year....gonna rock the Kasbah with a festive feast!  Enjoy this time of year, it's definately a special one. Here's some of my all time fave Christmas songs (reminds me of being a very little kid). Pure Cheezzze but I love 'em!    (pause my iPod player on the lower right side for the full Wham! Christmas experience)

Mmm-muffin top!

Muffin tops, what could be worse?  Ok, maybe a few things like Global Warming or the threat of an Iranian Nuclear weapons program.  But right now, today, it's a muffin top and I'm not talking about the warm, freshly baked kind, served best straight from the oven (with butter). drool.

Since kid #2 arrived, my post-baby bod is definately different then pre-baby. While I'm managing to lose most of the weight through Massive Weight Loss 2009, I seem to be suffering from some 'belly fat' issues that were NOT there pre-baby.  ick.

While I suppose I shouldn't complain about something so trivial, it does drive me bananas!  (but really, what isn't trivial compaired to Iran's potential for weapons of mass distruction?)

Why the muffin top?

Theory #1

I'm a chunky monkey around the tum-tum.  duh, obviously? And all the Jazzercize in the world ain't gonna help! (does Jazzercise still exist?)

Theory #2

The rise on jeans (length of crotch) is borderline obscene.  YEAH, I like that theory better, it's not me, it's the jeans.

Seriously, over the last 5-6 years, jeans have definately made a move towards a shorter rise (7 inches, are you for real?) "Designer" jeans are to blame but I still love 'em.  {One simple request "7 For All Mankind"....you too "R&R", please, pretty please make a slightly longer rise on your gor-geous jeans.}

No one wants to see this mama's muffin top, and I'm am soooo tired of body slimmers. Eff YOU Nancy Ganz...and all your support garments.
  (Actually, no Nancy, I take that back. Without you I'd be totally eff'd. Now I just look like freakin' STUFFED SAUSAGE trying to fit into some freakin' skinny jeans wearing a body slimmer).

To be fair, in the last year or two, jeans have been slowly moving a little bit longer in the rise. Thanks to the GAP's "Curvy jeans"  my Spanx are only for special occasions...when I want to look like a stuffed sausage?!?

Really, at the end of the day, the only solution is to continue Massive Weight Loss 2009-10 and squeeze my ass into decent jeans, sans body slimmer. Low rise or not.  I have pre-baby jeans just sitting in my closet crying out to be worn.....  "15 more pounds mama, and we're yours again".....

Coffee I lurve thee!

So what could be better than  a cup of coffee...not much I'd say. If you drink it black, it has no calories, it conveniently suppresses your appetite when you're on your never ending diet (Massive Weight Loss 2009, soon to carry over to 2010)...and it keeps you going long enough to survive a day with kid #1 and #2. 

This might be true...("you paid too much for that coffee")...but I usually disagree. What could be better than a tall, half sweet, non-fat, no whip, Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks? That's right, nothing...ok, maybe a GingerBread Latte.   It's a little bit of heavenly YUM and for 150 calories, who cares!

But my true lurve is a regular cup of black, Tim Horton's coffee. No frills, cheap...and the only way I get my ass out of bed in the morning!   (crying kid #2 is only a distant second).....

For those of you in the U.S. that don't "know" what Tim Horton's is, well , that's just unfortunate.  It's divine, and reason enough to immigrate to Canada. That's right, DUMP America and come on up. You'll be glad you did...for the coffee.

http://www.timhortons.com/ca/en/index.html 

Christmas CRUSH!

It's time kids...  gonna share my Christmas crushes.  ( what I want from the Man in Red. But since he doesn't really exist...most of these things won't either). *sigh*    Let's begin...

 Tory Burch - Vintage Bombe Burch Tote- $575  Holt Renfrew

 Kate Spade Fiona Slippers - yeah, me and everyone else in the world want's 'em, not sure they are available in Canada. Boo

Marc Jacobs  Q Solid Groove $498.00  Zappos.com.  Love me some MJ!

Tom Ford Miranda Sunglasses  $450'ish?  Holt Renfrew

Bottega Veneta Intrecciato Accordian Tote-Deep

David Yurman Diamond, and lime green Perdot (not Blue Topaz as shown) Sterling bracelet

Holt Renfrew

Bobbi Brown Chrome Holiday Make-up Collection

Holt Renfrew- Love these colours...a smokey eyes dream!!

Matsushima Brown Boot- Aldo...and a steal at only $170.00!!  Maybe worn with the Tory Burch Bombe Tote???

That's all...for now. Updates are highly likely....

Fa-la-la-la HA!

"Have a holly, jolly Christmas, it's the best time of the year. I don't know if there'll be snow, but have a cup of BEER".  --- As sung by my 4 year old.     I die! LOL

Therapy....yes

So while trying to avoid eating everything in sight today (approaching TOM), I decided to squash my pre-menstrual cravings for, what else, pasta, with a little shop-shop-shoppin'.  I needed another trip to the mall like I need a hole in the head but the mall that's closest to us is pretty fantastic and is almost like a second home. (Is that strange?)   There are some serious sales on right now, no need to wait till Boxing day to find a smokin' deal. 

I've realized that as I get older I lurve shopping more and more...and as I try to widdle away the size of my post-baby ass, my fashion horizons are ever expanding.  Here's to finding your size every time!!   BUT I've also realized that I'm seriously price-conscious!  I can't stand spending excessively on something tres trendy, but I still want the look of whatever is hot. I can tell you this, there are bar-gains to be found in this city....even at the mall!   Let's review today's purchases.....

Leopard pumps- get this $12.00.  You heard me, 12 bucks

(ok, so they were from Suzy Shier....now before you go judging, let me say that I never normally shop at SS, but every once in a very while they have insane deals. Sort through the crap to find the GOLD...or in this case, the LEOPARD!

Black leggings- $18.00...slight sheen to the fabric...but hopefully they don't look like they were cut from a Glad Garbage bag...  SO cute with the leopard pumps, no?

Cowlneck Sweater Dress-$20.00 from... gah... Fairweather. I haven't stepped foot in Fairweather for years....who would?!  I only glanced as I was walking by (I swear!) and saw 50% off.  My price-consciousness attacked.

Black thin knit sweater- $20.00.  BOO-YA! (did I just write, boo-yah?)  Again, from crap-tastic Fairweather...but whateva!

Today's lesson shoppers, is that decent finds are out there! Just hunker down, avoid eye-contact, and rush that store.  Don't judge....find deals.  It's all about the look...who cares where it came from.  Is that sweater dress from BCBG? No.  But they don't know that.    See, I can't handle paying crazy ass prices for things that in all probablity (by next week) will be sooooo winter '09 . It's not even winter yet technically!   

Now obviously for many things there is no substitute for buckin' up and paying what's necessary- jeans, sunglasses, bags etc.  But for almost anything else there's the mall! 

Bitches be Shoppin' !!!.....for make-up

So Saturday nite was BFF's birthday and she thought it might be fun if we all (me, her and other BFF) went to MAC to have our make-up done since we were going out of drinks and dinner.  When I first moved to Calgary 15 years ago MAC was fairly new, well newer, new to me anyway.  I decided to go for a make-up consultation/application and get myself skooled on how to do my make-up properly.  It was then that I learned how completely necessary decent eye make-up is.  I feel pretty good about my make-up app. technique and try to stay open minded to new ideas. I totally lurve watching make-up tutorials on YouTube..(yes it's kinda lame) but so informative!!   I'll admit I was a bit skeptical going to MAC on Saturday, thinking what could they do for me that I don't already know.  Well, live and learn.  They are called make-up 'artists' for a reason I suppose...and she gave me a great smokey eye, great black liner and some fabulous #3 falsies (lashes that is...)  
False lashes are life-changing, I've been rockin' them for a few months now. Creates total drama for the eyezzz!!!    And Kim Kardashian is the QUEEN of lashes (and an overall goddess of beauty)!

Look at those eyes!!     I heart Kim K.....

So I brought my list of product that I needed and decided to stock up. For shadows I picked up Typograph...an awsome black matte.  Dazzlelight...great for a shimmery highlight on your brow bone and Swiss Chocolate...a delicious brown for great natural eye. 

Fab  #3 lashes....long, full and natural looking

Mineralize blush in Warm Soul

(soft pink)

Mineralize Skinfinish Natural, gives low coverage with a natural-matte finish

(was worried that the powder would settle into the fine lines around my eyes, didn't want to look like a hag...but this wasn't a prob)

So the total came to just under $130, but I had a $10 discount card thing and I had a mountain of HBC Rewards (from the Bay) saved up and I redeemed a few thousand. I've been saving for years (since we were married) and it's not like I'm going to redeem them for a toaster, cordless phone or some other crappy household item I already have and don't need.  Soooo when it was all said and done I only dropped $9.95.  What, what!!!   I know, right?!

If I could live on Pasta I would....

It's true...in a perfect world I'd be feasting on pasta every damn day. But it's not a perfect world, and I've been working on "Massive Weight Loss 2009" for a year... (henceforth to be referred to as MWL 2009).    Pasta is a double edged sword....delicious yet deadly.  Ok, so deadly is dramatic but I going for heavy emphasis here. On the one hand it's glorious carby-ness could not be a more perfect food, it's versatile, satisfying and so much more than just a side-dish  (no offense potatoes), it's just so darn eff'n good!  But on the other hand at over 300 calories per 85 grams, it's out of control. Who only eats 85g of pasta? Not me.  (500 grams equals 1 pound, and yeah, I can eat a whole pound of pasta).  That's a calorie crime-scene.

It's also a trigger food....once I have a bit I can't really stop. Yes, for most people that's more of a chocolate/fries/sweddish berries sort of a problem... but for me it's pasta. (Linguine really is a little strand of heaven sent from God).

 Life's not fair.  I want pasta, now, like right now (yeah it's 1:30am, so what)?  But's that's not the sort of thing that's happened since I was pregant with kid #2. And look where that got me...fighting with a bitch called MWL 2009.  Gawd I hate her!

Top Colour for 2010 is turquoise

How cool am I? Of course this blog is a done in a "top colour"... but who knew there was such a thing?...and that there are people that actually elect colours to be "top"??

By SAMANTHA CRITCHELL, AP Fashion Writer Samantha Critchell, Ap Fashion Writer –

on Dec 7, 10:00 pm ET

NEW YORK – If color is any guide, we'll be moving into vacation mode in 2010 with the world awash in tropical turquoise, forecasters say.

Turquoise was selected as the color of 2010 by Pantone, a company that supplies and tracks color for fashion and home decor, among other industries. Fashion insiders agreed the color is on the rise.

"Turquoise is universally appealing. It puts everyone in the same state of mind — on vacation," says Jane Schoenborn, design director at Lilly Pulitzer. "Turquoise for us is a really big color. A lot of times it's transporting, whether you're actually going to a resort destination or not."

Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, says there was no runner-up to turquoise in her mind because people crave escapism and freshness after a tough year. The shade is on the cusp of blue and green, which makes it both inviting and serene — characteristics associated with blues — and invigorating and luminous, which comes from green, she says.

Interior designer Charlotte Moss says she turns to turquoise to liven up a look that otherwise seems stilted or conservative — and it pairs nicely with a wide range of colors more typical to home decor: gray, navy, black and white. "We're looking for things that are that are flexible and more universal, and that is turquoise," she says.

Hmmm "flexible and universal"....that right there is the reason to be selected TOP COLOUR 2010!

Birthday Par-tay....looking hawt!!

It's BFF's thirty second  birthday on Saturday nite and we're going to Bungalow/Mercury for cocktailssss.  Of course as I'm sipping my Candy Cane martini the most important thing is what I'll be wearing...ok, and I suppose celebrating her 32 years of life....

                                       Torn about what to wear..

                                       Slouchy shirt   (all black)

Sequin leggins plus patent heels  (I heart sequins!)

OR

H&M tux jacket (this is not the exact pic, mine has cute puff sleeves and isn't so manly)

Cranberry red shirt

Black denim leggings (LOVE LEGGINGS)   * ignore fugly boots

Red Satin pumps

All in all, option #2 seems more festive, no?   Opinions pa-lease!